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Monthly Archives: September 2017

In Canada, water related fatalities are decreasing but preventable accidents still remain a problem today. It is important for children as well as adults to have strong swimming skills and learn water safety in order to avoid drowning or other water-related accidents. To prevent drowning, children need to know how to swim as well as how to react when in the water and an issue occurs. Adults need to know how to swim as well and will need to know proper safety measures such as first aid in order to assist if an accident were to occur.

Swim Lessons

To begin with drowning prevention and swimming skills, swim lessons need to be scheduled. Children can begin swimming lessons at a young age and quickly develop the knowledge needed to be safe in the water. When you start your child in swimming lessons at a swim school, they are open to training and as their brain develops, the skills they learn become associated with muscle memory. Your child is better able to retain the skills learned which means they will catch on quickly and remember the skills.

When a child learns to swim at an early age, they are able to stay safe in the water. You can feel good about your child swimming in the pool or open water as they have gained the necessary skills to stay safe, also knowing how to react in stressful water situations.

Causes of Drowning

There are many causes of drowning when it comes to children. For example, small kids can drown by having access to swimming pools that are not fenced in. Kids always need to be supervised around water. However, drowning deaths can also occur in supervised pools where lifeguards are on duty. While you must always be within arms reach or close proximity to your child while they are in the water, they need to know how to swim. Accidents can happen within seconds and you do not want your child to be involved in one.

Enrolling your child in a swim class will help to prevent an accidental drowning. Children learn how to float and stay safe. Small children can learn how to float and paddle to safety even at a young age which helps to cut down the probability of a drowning accident.

Swim classes are easy to find in Canada. Zodiac Swim School is a top provider of swim lessons for children of all ages. You can easily enroll your child in swim classes and help your child to learn how to stay safe in the water. Allowing you to feel better about water activities with your child, when they know the proper way to swim as well as stay safe when in or around water.

The benefits of taking swim classes in the fall season. Swimming lessons for kids are taken to help your child learn how to swim and be safe in the water.

Drownings can take place throughout the year, be it during the summer season when swimming is prevalent or in other seasons like winter. It is vital that swimming lessons for kids are taken to help your child learn how to swim and be safe in the water. Swim schools offer swimming lessons year-round, though most parents think lessons are only offered during the warmer months of the year. When a swimming pool is located in your area, then you can enroll your child in swimming lessons, even in the fall, to continually learn more about water safety and to hone swimming skills.

Retaining Skills and Water Safety Knowledge

Children are better able to retain their swimming skills when they practice year-round. When enrolled in fall classes, children can build on their swimming skills and continue to understand the much-needed water safety tips. Your child can build on what was learned during the summer and continue to focus on becoming a stronger swimmer.

Many Class Options

While most parents enroll their kids in summer or spring swimming lessons, the fall classes are almost equally as popular as the spring . For this reason, many swim schools will have more options available then they would during the winter months so that children and adults are better able to find a class that works with their schedule. In fact, many parents like the Fall classes as it tends to be a longer session. Swimmers receive more classes and have more opportunity to continue refining their techniques.

Routine

It is important to establish a routine in order to help your child retain information. With swimming lessons, you can continue with the swimming routine after summer by signing up for fall classes. If you wait until summer to sign up again, you might lose some of the techniques developed. By continuing with lessons, you can continue to hold a spot in the swimming class and help your child to establish a strong swimming routine. This also helps to create a solid exercise routine which can benefit your child as well.

Social Development

With swimming lessons, your child may become more social. Your child will be taking a class with children their own age and can make new friends. Many children are shy and have a hard time meeting others. However, children often feel relaxed in the water and will be able to make friends during class which will be helpful to their social development. Children will be excited to attend swimming lessons when they know they will be seeing their friends.

Overall, your child can benefit from taking swimming lessons in the fall, as well as year-round. At Zodiac Swim School, swimming lessons are offered year-round in a comfortable environment for children of all ages. Contact Zodiac Swim School today to learn more about swimming lessons, be it for the upcoming fall and winter season, as well as spring and summer. By enrolling your child, they can benefit from taking swimming lessons from top quality instructors.

Swimming Lessons can teach your child leadership skills that can then be carried over into other areas of their life.

When you sign your child up for swimming lessons, your main focus is probably water safety. You want your child to learn the necessary skills so that they can be safe when enjoying the water. But did you know that swimming also teaches valuable skills that can be used in different aspects of life? Swimmers can learn how to be successful leaders which is a great benefit for your child as they move into their teenage years and adulthood. With the leadership skills learned, your child can see success in the pool as well as in other life situations.

Teamwork

At swim school, your child will be able to learn the basic movements of swimming and then move on to more advanced techniques. When learning swimming skills, the instructor will have children work as a team to reach a common goal. Leaders do not work alone, they have a team with them at all times to be effective. With swimming lessons integrating teamwork, your child can learn the valuable lesson of getting along well with others and being able to work as a group.

Perseverance

To persevere means to be able to handle a setback and continue on. In life, setbacks are going to occur. Your child needs to learn how to persevere, no matter how hard the situation. In swimming, children may have difficulty learning a new skill. However, if they are taught to persevere, they will keep going and eventually see that their hard work pays off. A good leader knows how to keep going and doesn’t let anything get in their way of achieving a goal.

Setting Goals

Speaking of goals, let’s talk about setting goals. A good leader will set a goal, be it in their personal life or for work. They will work hard to reach this goal. As children take part in swimming lessons, they will learn how to set goals and work towards them. This could be working on a new stroke, holding their breath, etc. Whatever the case may be, your child will learn how to set goals and meet them, feeling a great sense of pride and accomplishment in the process.

Decision-Making Skills

A good leader is always making decisions. When in a leader position, others lean on that individual to make decisions, something that can impact the entire team as well as the individual. With swimming, children are faced with decision-making and learn how to think quick on their feet. Take for example swimming goals. If your child has made a goal of practicing four times a week, they need to decide to come to practice that many times. When they don’t, they can see that their decision-making process hurt them as they were unable to train or build on a new skill.

Overall, swim lessons assist with the characteristics of being a good leader. Your child will be able to not only learn how to swim and be safe in the water during lessons, but they will also be able to gain leadership skills. These skills can be carried over into other areas of their life to reach accomplishments with ease. At Zodiac Swim School, swimming lessons are offered for children of all ages. Enroll your child today to begin them on the path to success!

Passionate about swimming and teaching? Read on to see why swim instructors love what they do and what makes it the perfect job.

A swim instructor is an individual who works at a swim school or swimming facility and helps others learn the basics or advanced skills involved in swimming. If you enjoy swimming and like to help others, being a swim instructor might be the perfect job for you. You will have the ability to do what you love as well as help others learn how to be safe in the water! Read on to see why swim instructors love what they do.

Casual Employment

One of the perks of being a swim instructor is the casual hours. You can take on as many or as few shifts as you like each season and pick a schedule that works well for you. With lessons running evenings and weekends, there’s plenty of shifts, perfect for a high school or college student or a parent or post-grad looking for casual or part-time employment.

Working with Children

For most swim instructors, many of the daily classes will consist of children. It can be really fun teaching children, especially during swim class. Kids love to learn and explore and it can be a very rewarding experience to see them achieve their swimming goals.

Future Endeavours

No matter what type of future employment your child chooses to pursue, any experience working with children will be beneficial to them. Working with children demonstrates the ability to be responsible, the ability to communicate with others, and the ability to take on a leadership role. These qualities are seen as very valuable and often gained through experience.

Swimming

If you are a swim instructor, chances are, you love the water. Who doesn’t want to love what they do? When you have a love of the water, you will enjoy getting in the swimming pool each and every day. You get to have fun at work doing what you love which is not something that everyone can say!

Stay Challenged

When you are a swim instructor you are constantly challenged with new classes. Not every child or adult is the same. So, you will find that the same teaching strategies may not work the same for each person and you may have to develop new strategies or drills to help your swimmer be successful. This makes work challenging and if you like a good challenge, being a swim instructor could be a great fit for you!

At Zodiac Swim School, training classes are offered to provide both adults and young people the skills needed to become swim instructors. Contact them today to learn more.

We’ve listed down the steps needed to become certified as a swim instructor. Learn how young adults can become swim instructors.

When a child starts swimming lessons at an early age, they gain a real love for the water. At swim school, children learn the basic skills associated with swimming at an early age and then develop even stronger skills and knowledge that can be used in extreme situations should they arise. They also have the ability to become a swim instructor in their teens. Below is a short guide to the steps needed to become certified as a swim instructor.

Bronze Star

At 11 years of age, a child who has completed a swimming program of Swim Kids10 or equivalent will be able to start Bronze Star training. This course provides training for the pre-Bronze Medallion stage. Problem-solving skills are worked on individually as well as in pairs. Basic first aid with CPR skills are included in this training type.

Bronze Medallion

With this training course, children must be 12 years of age and have completed Bronze Star training or be 13 years of age. The course provides information on life-saving principles based on four areas of water-rescue: judgment, fitness, knowledge, and skill. Teens will learn how to tow and carry individuals as well as defense options when the victim is fighting back. Challenging rescues are discussed with stroke efficiency developed as well as timed swim endurance. Emergency First Aid and CPR B is included in this class.

Bronze Cross

The next level of the life-saving skills taught is found in the Bronze Cross class. Children will become one step closer to being a certified rescuer or a lifeguard. This training class focuses on building up the skills learned during Bronze Medallion training. Children learn the difference between a lifeguard and lifesaver as well as learn more about deep water spinal injury and treatment.

The Bronze courses are open to children of a young age in order for the individual to receive proper training before beginning the National Lifeguard Courses. At 16 years of age, a child can begin these courses with Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid-CPR C training completed. The National Lifeguard Courses will get your child on the right path to becoming a lifeguard and helping others.

With this training, a whistle and basic first aid kit are required. A waist pack is provided to keep these tools plus a CPR mask and gloves during the training period.

Swim Instructor

The next stage in becoming an instructor is to take the Swim instructor course at 16 years of age. This course teaches candidates about lesson planning, teaching to various ages, progressions, and evaluating. Upon successful completion of both the Swim Instructor course and a minimum certification of a Bronze Cross, although National Lifeguard is preferred, candidates will be ready to seek employment as an instructor.

Overall, these training courses provide your child with the ability to learn leadership as well as life-saving skills. Your child can develop a strong sense of self and be determined to help others as a lifeguard during a rescue and teach others how to swim to prevent potential water incidents.

At Zodiac Swim School, training is provided for children to start Bronze classes,National Lifeguard courses as well as Swim Instructor courses. Trained professionals can get your child started on the right track to be successful in learning the key steps to water safety and life-saving measures both in the water and with CPR. Contact Zodiac Swim School today to learn more about the courses offered.

Learn more about Zodiac Day Camp and why parents approve! Zodiac Day Camp offers a plethora of activity so your kids stay active and fit.

Parents love sending their children to day camp for a variety of reasons. Parents enjoy seeing their child have fun and learning new activities as well as making friends. At summer day camp, children of all ages have the ability to attend programs and enjoy the many benefits that only camp can provide. Below is a little inside info from parents who have loved seeing their children thrive and grow after spending time at Zodiac Day Camp.

Staying Active

When asking parents what they like most about Zodiac Day Camps, many talk about the way their children are able to stay active. When kids are out of school, they want to spend time on tablets or mobile phones or watch television. With day camp, kids have a fun alternative where they can stay active and keep their body moving. From basketball and soccer to swimming, Zodiac Day Camp offers a plethora of activity so your kids stay active and fit.

Making Friends

Parents have also talked with our counselors about how their kids are making friends at camp. Zodiac offers day camp programs for a variety of age groups. Many parents find it hard to provide an outlet for friendships for their kids except with day camp. At camp, kids are able to meet other children their own age and begin to develop relationships. Through group activity and playtime, children are able to meet other kids and develop friendships that can last a lifetime. Most campers look forward to the next day of camp so they can see their new friends!

Sense of Happiness

Many children are often shy to engage with others or initiate play. Parents find it difficult to watch as their kids seem unhappy or unable to interact with others. At day camp, children are quickly drawn out of their shell as they take part in activities such as arts & crafts or sports with other kids. Sometimes, it takes placing the child in a camp environment for creativity and personality to shine through.

Self-Confidence

Parents have also reported that their children gain a strong sense of self-confidence at camp. Kids are able to meet goals or learn new skills which give them the confidence to try new things. At day camp, kids are introduced to new activities and new experiences. Once they see how fun and exciting it can be to try something new, they are more willing to try new things with parents or in other scenarios after gaining self-confidence.

These are just a few of the benefits that parents have seen with children attending day camp. Consider enrolling your child in day camp today to allow them to make new friends, try new activities and just have fun. Zodiac Day Camp offers a wealth of programming for kids ranging in toddler ages to preteens. You can easily find a program for your child to enjoy during the summer months. Contact them today to learn more about the programs available and how your child can enroll.

Learn the Scientific Facts Behind Year-Round Swimming Lessons. Swimming programs for kids are a great way for your child to learn skills to swim effectively.

Swimming is a fun activity that children and adults enjoy. The activity is even more enjoyable when you know how to swim. Swimming programs for kids are a great way for your child to learn the skills to swim effectively, being safe in the water and having fun at the same time. For most parents, they feel swimming lessons should be completed in the spring or summer months due to the weather. However, lessons can be taken year-round and provide a ton of benefits. Below are a few examples as to how swimming can benefit your child throughout the year.

Whole Child Development

Swimming benefits your child physically, but did you know it also helps to improve the development of your child’s mind and emotions? Many studies have been conducted that show children who swim year-round with lessons from instructors will do better academically and have stronger problem-solving skills than those who don’t. Swimmers also tend to be more self-disciplined and have a higher sense of self-esteem.

Motor Skill Improvement

Younger swimmers have shown an improved development of motor skills with consistent training. Swimming helps to promote strong grasping techniques as well as better balance. When a smaller child starts to participate in swim classes, they will be able to increase these motor skills and perform other activities even better. You may find that your child is able to walk, pull themselves up and balance easier after they have completed a few swimming lessons.

Cognitive Development

Physical development as well as cognitive development increases with the introduction of swimming lessons. Children tend to even have higher IQs based on what they learn and practice during swimming lessons. Brain development also increases as the child is learning by the stimulation from swimming in the water.

Learning Potential Increased Plus Memory Capabilities

Swimming sure does have an impact on the brain of a child, especially when completed on a continual basis. Exercise has already been proven to improve memory so, with swimming, children are helping their memory which boosts their learning potential. Regular exercise will increase the neurons to the hippocampus, which is the area that is associated with the brain. A study by the University of Pittsburgh discovered that individuals who are in shape have a larger hippocampus than individuals who are not as fit.

Social Skills

Children who enjoy a physical activity like swimming will also be able to establish stronger social skills. Your child will learn how to listen to the instructor, take turns with others and share. Cooperation is also needed in order to complete tasks with others. Even the smallest of children learn how to adapt to situations socially via swimming lessons.

At Zodiac Swim School, we provide the perfect outlet for your child to learn how to swim and build on the skills learned year-round. We offer swimming classes for all ages and are happy to help your child learn to swim, building upon emotional, physical and mental health along the way. Contact our office today to learn more about the swimming lessons we have available.

Year round swimming programs for kids can really benefit your child. Read on to see how your child can benefit from taking swimming lessons year-round.

Just because fall is around the corner does not mean swimming programs for kids come to an end. Indoor swimming facilities offer swimming lessons year-round which can be quite beneficial to the overall swimming skills of your child. Don’t think of swimming lessons as something that takes place only during the summer months. Read on to see how your child can benefit from taking swimming lessons year-round.

Enhanced Safety Skills

When your child takes lessons in every season, they are reminded of safety measures. Drowning is one of the top causes of unintentional injury or death and swimming lessons help to reduce this risk. Your child will always have their safety knowledge in the back of their mind and know what to do and not do when around a swimming pool, no matter the season.

Consistency

When a child takes swimming lessons only in the summer, they can forget part of their training. With lessons year-round, the child is able to better retain the information and skills they have learned. The child can also become more comfortable with the instructor and build on what they have learned in previous sessions.

Availability

Perhaps you have tried to enroll your child in spring or summer swimming lessons only to lose out on a spot. Classes fill up quickly during these months. Fall and winter are a great time to sign up for swimming lessons as there is more availability. Lock in the day you wish to have lessons as well as the time frame and you can keep this throughout the year or at least have the first pick when the next time to sign up for swimming lessons rolls around. There are many benefits to signing up this time of year and your swimming facility will be able to show you the advantages once you have enrolled your child.

Cognitive Abilities Improve

Studies have been conducted involving children who take swimming lessons early in age. These children are able to do better in school and have an improved cognitive function when compared to non-swimmers. Children who take swimming year-round and year after year can see an improvement in balance, movement and grasping, cognitive development, physical development and an overall efficiency of the processes of the brain.

Confidence Booster

Children who work on swimming skills year-round are able to develop more self-confidence. Children will feel encouraged to overcome their fears and learn how to reach their goals. Swimmers who may be fearful at first learn how to stay calm in the water as well as comfortable because they are taking lessons on a continual basis.

These are just a few of the benefits your child will enjoy by taking swimming lessons throughout the year. At Zodiac Swim School, swimming lessons are offered year-round for children of all ages. Find out more by contacting the office and discussing your child’s age as well as swim skill level. Once enrolled, you will be able to continue with training throughout the year and see growth within your child in a variety of ways.

The benefits and convenience of using reusable swim diapers during swimming lessons.

Swimming is a fun pastime enjoyed in the summer outdoors but also throughout the year via swimming programs or indoor swimming pools. Children love to swim, especially infants and toddlers. However, when you take your smaller child to the swimming pool, you are now required to bring swim diapers. In the past, the only option was a disposable swim diaper. This option did not work very well to keep the baby free of accidents in the pool. Thankfully, there is now a new option with reusable swim diapers. Learn more about the benefits of reusable swim diapers below!

Eco-friendly

To begin, reusable swim diapers are eco-friendly. If you take your children swimming on a regular basis, you will go through a lot of disposable diapers. Instead of constantly throwing diapers away after a swim, you can wash one or two pairs regularly and always have a comfortable option for your little one. Plus you avoid creating further trash for the environment.

Affordable and Convenient

Having a reusable swim diaper is also an affordable option. With disposable diapers, you only can use them once. Therefore, you are constantly having to buy new packs of diapers. This can become quite costly if you have enrolled your child in swimming lessons or go swimming with friends regularly. With a reusable swim diaper, you pay once for an item that you can use again and again with the adjustable buttons, it grows with your child. . Plus you never run out of diapers, the convenience of not having to run to the store is a huge benefit.

Safe for Other Swimmers

Reusable swim diapers are also safe for other swimmers in the pool. No one wants to be in a swimming pool when a pool fouling occurs This is not only gross but can be a health concern. By using a product that is proved to work in preventing accidents, you are keeping others safe. Reusable swim diapers are designed to fit closer to the skin without sag and have a plastic cover that prevents any leaks from entering into the swimming pool.

Quality Materials for Baby’s Sensitive Skin

Most babies have sensitive skin to some degree. With a reusable diaper, the materials used are softer and designed to be like a bathing suit. Zodiac Swim School offers a quality solution of reusable swim diapers that protect your baby’s skin. With buttons to adjust the diaper for both their height and weight, your baby will be comfortable and easily be able to have fun in the water.

On a side note, you can also use the reusable diapers for potty training! Once your child is old enough to try and go to the bathroom, put them in the swim diaper. Even if they have an accident, you simply wash the diaper and try again!

At Zodiac Swim School, we provide quality reusable swim diapers for your child in all prints and sizes. We can assist you in choosing the right swim diaper for your child. Our diapers are of the highest quality and ensure your child will be comfortable while in the water!

Enroll your child as a private student or in a group to help your little one start on the path to learning how to swim correctly.

Helping your child learn how to swim is one of the best actions you can take as a parent. Swimming programs for kids are the perfect way to ensure your child learns how to be safe in the water but also has the skills needed in order to swim when they need to or would like to. It is recommended that parents enroll children at an early age, such as with toddler swim lessons. You can enroll your child as a private student or in a group to help your little one start on the path to learning how to swim correctly.

One of the highlights of enrolling your child at a young age is you get to experience bonding time with your child. During the lessons, you will participate as well. The goal is to help your child feel comfortable in the water and you assist with games and activities in order for your child to learn the necessary skills to float, tread water and more. As you play games and complete the exercises during swim class, you are helping your child to become comfortable in the water and having fun with them at the same time.

As you engage in regular swim classes, you will begin to feel closer and more connected to your child. This will increase the trust and security your child has in your relationship as well as helping you to better read the cues of your little one. Communication will be improved which is beneficial throughout the relationship of you and your child.

Whether you enroll your child as an infant or toddler, you will be able to enjoy a bonding experience. You and your child will be physically connected to the water and your little one will be gaining quality water confidence which will help to boost learning potential as they age. The warm water of the swimming pool is also relaxing which can lead to a stress-free time for parent and baby.

Enjoy this time with your child as they are only little for so long. Sign up for swim lessons and have your child experience learning the art of swimming in your arms. You will feel closer to your child and strengthen the bond that you already have. It will be fun for you to see how your child is able to grasp swimming techniques. You will also have the ability to work with them whenever you like to build upon the swimming techniques presented by the instructor.

So, cuddle and hug your baby while in the water, having a good time during swimming lessons with your child. The benefits are immense with the most enjoyable factor being you get to spend quality time with your little one.

At Zodiac Swim School, swimming lessons are provided for children of all ages. Enroll your child today to begin teaching them the much-needed skills to be safe and secure in or around water. Classes are offered for all age groups and skill levels.